United States Department ofState fVashington, 205
MAY 2013
Case No.: F-2011-08202 Segment: CA/PPT /LILE
Mr. Sean Dunagan Judicial Watch 425 Third Street SW, Suite 800 Washington, 20024
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Enclosures: stated. FIED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290940 Date: 05/31/2013
Anwar aJ-Awlak.i's
family speaks out against his, son's deaths -1ne Washington Post Page 1of3
year-old son ran away from the family home Yemen's capital Sanaa try find hlm, relatives say. When he, too, was killed U.S. airstrike Friday, the Awlaki family decided speak out for the first time since the attacks.
"To kill teenager just unbelievable, really, and they claim that al-Qaeda militant. Ifs nonsense," said Nasser al-Awlaki, fonner Yemeni agriculture minister who was Anwar aJ-Awlaki's father and the boy's grandfather, speaking phone interview from Sanaa Monday. "They wanl justify his killing, thnt's all."
The teenager, Abdulrahman al-Awlaki, U.S. citizen who was born Denver 1995, and his 17-year
old Yemeni cousin were killed
U.S. strike that left nine people dead southeasle.m
Yemen.
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290940 Date: 05/31/2013 FIED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. COS290940 Date: 05/31/2013
Anwar al-Awlaki's family speaks out against his, son's deaths -The Washinf,'1.0n Post Page 2of3
The strike occurred near the town Azzzn, lslamist stronghold. The Defense Ministry Yemen described Banna one the "most dangerous operatives" al-Qaeda the Arabian Peninsula, often referred the acronym AQAP.
U.S. assessment
U.S. officials said they wer.e still assessing the results the strike Monday evening determine who was killed. The officials would not discuss the attack any detail. incl.uding who the target was, but typicaUy the ClA and the Pentagon focus senior .figures al-Qaeda's affiliate Yemen.
"We have seen press reports that AQAP senior official lbrahim al-Banna was killed last Friday
Yemen and that several others. including the son Anwar al-Awlaki, were with al-Banna the time,"
said Thomas Vietor, spokesman for the National Security Council. "For over the past year, the
Department State has publicly urged U.S. citizens not travel Yemen and bas encouraged those
already Yemen leave because the continuing threat violence and the presence terrorist
organizations. including AQAP. throughout-the country." senior congressional official who familiar with U.S. operations Yemen and spoke the
condition anonymity discuss sensitive policy issues said, "If they knew 16-year-old was there,
think that would cause for them say: 'Gee. ought not hit this guy. That would considered
collateral damage.'
The official said that the CIA and the military's Joint Special Operations Command are expected
ensure that women and children are not killed airstrikes Pakistan and Yemen but thatsometimes
might not possible distinguish teenager from militants.
Nasser al-A wlaki said was told people the area where the airstrike occurred that the two
teenagers were about have meal with small group men when they were hit. said did not
know who else was the group but was told that they were mostly yowig people.
"The others [just don't know. Maybe they were being targeted," Awlaki said. typical kid' separate statement Monday, the Awlaki family said that Abdulrahman "along with some his
tribe's YOlth have gone barbecuing under the moonlight. drone missile hi.t their congregation _killing
Abdulrahman and several other teenagers."
Nasser alAwlaki said the family decided issue statement after reading some U.S. news reports that described Abdulrahman militant his twenties.
"Look his pictures,
his friends, and hisbobbies," the statement said. "His Facebook page shows typical kid. teenager who paid hefty price for something never did and never was."
The pictures the Facebook page show smiling kid out and about the countryside and occasionally hamming for the camera. Abdulrahman left the United States with his father 2002.
Nasser al-Awlaki said Abdulrahman was the first year secondary school when left Sanaa find
http://www. washingtonposl.coro/world/national-security/anwar-al-awlakisTfami ly-speaks... 0/26/20
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290940 Date: 05/31/2013 0=1ED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290940 Date: 05/31/2013 Anwar alAwlaki's family speaks out against his, son's deaths -The Washington Post Page 3of3 his father. wrote note his mother, saying missed his father ancl. wanted see him. The teenager traveled the family's tribal home southern Yemen, but Anwar al-Awlaki was killed Sep. Yemen's northern Jawfprovince, about mj.les east the capital. "He went from here without knowledge," Nasser al-Awlaki said. "'We would not allow him know because small boy." said his grandson, after hearing about his father's death, had dcidcd return Sanaa. The family also condemned the death Anwar al-Awlaki, 40, "unlawful assassination." saying that was American citizen who had never been formally charged with any crime. Anwar al-Awlaki, who was born New Mexico, was one al-Qaeda's most prominent and effective propagandists, but U.S. officials said had also become directly involved terrorist plots against the United States. After his killing, President Obama described him chief .excmnl for U.S. officials had tied him the attempted bombing commercial aircraft approach Detroit and the attempted downing two cargo planes over the United States. They said inspired Army officer who charged with killing people November 2009 shooting rampage Fort Hood, Tex., and PakiStani-American man who tried set off car bomb New York City May 2010. The family, its statement, said, "Anwar was never 'militant'" nor was "the head Qaeda external operations." The United States hns stepped drone operations Yemen counter AQAP, which fears exploiting the country's chaos plot further attacks. Violent clashes continued Monday Sanaa between government forces and troops loyal anny general who broke with President Ali Abdullah Saleh protect protesters calling for his ouster. Staffwriters James Buck, Greg Jaffe and Jason Ukman and staff researcher Julie Tate contributed this report. Sponsored Links StockAtert: VELA" "The Wortd's Most Undervalued Company." -Tobin Smith, Fox Business www.telecominvei;ting.comNELA 1.010/aAPYFree Checking lhe National Average Guaranteewww .capitalone.cxim The Next lntemet Boom Stock Investment with 1,000% Potential Gains. www.smauthority.com Buy link he.-. The Washington Post Company hrtp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-securit)' /anwar-al-awl akis-farniJy-speaks. I0126/2011 UNCLASSIFIED U.S. State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290940 Date: 05/31/2013 FIED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290938 Date: 05/31/2013 drone strike kills al-Qaida militants Yemen, clashes Sanaa leaves dead -Th... Page drone strike kills aI-Qaida militants Yemen, clashes Sanaa leaves dead Associated Press, Published: October
SANAA, Yemen -The United States has raised the tempo its war against al-Qaida Yemen, killing nine the lerror group's militants the second, b.igh-profile ai:rstrike many weeks. lbc dead the late Friday night strike included the son Anwar al-Awlaki, the p.rorninent American-Yemeni militant killed Sept. strike.
Yemeni officials Saturday attributed the recent U.S. successes against al-Qaida better intelligence from army Yemeni infonners and cooperation with the Saudis, Washington's longtime Arab allies.
The successes come even Yemen fatls deeper into turmoiI, with President Ali Abdullah Saleh clinging power the face months massive protests. Saturday saw the worst bloodshed weeks the capital, Sanaa: least people were killed when Saleh' troops fired protesters and clashed
with rivals. Witnesses estimated 300,000 people joined Saturday's demonstrations, the largest
the capital several months.
"Everyone with interests Yemen, including al-Qaida and the Americans, raising the stakes this
time uncertainty" said analyst Abdul-Bari Taher. Tue Americans are wasting timeto try and eliminate the al-Qaida threat before the militants dig deeper and canno1 easily dislodged."
Also dead the Friday .airstrike the southeastern province Shabwa Egyptian-born Ibrahim aJBanna, identified the nation's Defense Ministry the media chief the Yemeni branch the al-
http://www.washlngtonpost.com/world/middle-east/yemen-says-mcdia-chief-for-al-qaida... 10/2612011
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290938 Date: 05/31/2013 8',FIED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290938 Date: 05/31/2013 drone strike kills al-Qaida militants Yemen, dashes Sanaa leaves dead -Th... Page
Qaida.
AJ-Qaida the Arabian Peninsula. the branch known, considered the U.S. the most dangerous the terror network's affiliates after plotted two recent failed attacks American soil. Its fighters and other Islamic militants have taken advantage emeo' chaos t_o seize control several cities and towns southern province. That has raised American fears they can cs1ablish firmer foothold the strategically located country close the vast oil fields the Gulf and overlooking key shipping routes.
The U.S. airstrikes Shabwa pointed Washing ton's growing use drones target al-Qaida militants Yemen. The missile attacks appear part determined effort stamp out the threat from the group.
Yemeni officials familiar with the U.S. military drive against al-Qaida i.o Yemen said shift strategy the Americans was finally yielding results, with human assets the ground directly providing actionable intelligence U.S. commanders rather than relying entirely Yemen's security agencies the Americans had long considered inefficient even suspected leaking word planned operations.
They said there were many 3,000 informers the U.S. payroll around the counlry-some
without even knowing it.
The Saudis, OIJ. the other hand, have traditionally kept elaborate patronage system and information network Yemen, their neighbor the south. They have for decades paid monthly stipends key tribal leaders. military commanders and politicians secure their loyalty. They also paid ordinary Yemenis provide them with intelligence.
"The Saudis are making their information available the Americans," said one the defense officials, a11 whom spoke condition anonymjt)' because they were not authorized share the infonnation. "Both them and the Americans are broadening their cooperation without dfrect Yemeni involvement."
Tribal elders the area where Friday's strikes took place said the dead included Abdul-Rahman alAw1akl the 21-year-old son Anwar al-Awlaki. Muslim preacher and savvy Internet operater who becume powerful al-Qaida recruiting tool the West and Who was oa. U.S. capture-or-kill list. The elder al-Awlaki and another propagandist, Pakistani-American Samir Khan, were killed the Sept. strike.
The tribal elders, who spoke Saturday condition anonymity because they feared reprisals, said four other members the al-Awlaki clan and another local militant were also killed the same drone attack. There was immediate confirmation the younger al-Awlaki death from Yemeni authorities.
Security officials said the strike was one five carried out overnight American drones suspected al-Qaida positions Shabwa and neighboring Abyan province Yemen,s largely lawless soulh. They said two more militants were killed and wounded other strikes the two provinces.
The first strike late Friday targeted house the A.zan district Shabwa, but hit just after al-Qaida
militants bad meeting the building, security officials and tribal elde.r.s said.
They said second strike then targeted two sport utility vehicles whkh the seven were traveling, destroying the vehicles and leaving the men's bodies charred. was not clear whether other participants the meeting were targeted separate strikes. tp://www. washi ngtonpost.com/world/middle-east/yemen-says-media-chief-for-alqaida... 0/26/2011
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290938 Date: 05/31/2013
-C052909381FIED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290938 Date: 05/31/2013
u::; drone strike kills al-Qaida militants Yemen, claSbes Sanaa leaves dead -Th... Page of4
Yemen's al-Qaida offshoot has taken advantage ofthe political turmoil roiling the colUltry. Saleh, who
has ruled the country for more than years, has been struggling stay power the face eight
months massive street protests demanding his ouster and the defection the opposicion key aides and military commanders. separate developmcht, the security officials said suspected al-Qaida militants bombed key undcr!.rround gas pipeline that extends from the BaJh.af area Shabwa e>Cport terminal the Arabian Sea. The late Friday night attack started massive fire, witJ1 columns flames illuminating the night sky.
The security officials said non-Yemeni employees Total, the rrench company running the gas field
and pipeline Balhaf, have been evacuated Sanaa aboard three helicopters for their safety. They had more details. Sanaa, forces loyal Saleh opened protesters with assault rifles and anti-aircraft guns, medical officials and witnesses said. The casualty figures -12 dead and 300 wounded -were continned Mohammed al-Qubati, director the field hospital set Change square, the name given cenrr.t.I Sanaa intersection that saw the birth the eight-month-old, anti-Saleh uprising.
The medical officials requested anonymity because they were not allowed speak journalists. Sanaa's northern district Hassaba, .fighting between Saleh's forces one side and anti-regime tribesmen and renegade troops the other killed two civilians and four supporters tribal chiefSadeq al-Ahmar, one-time regime ally who defected the opposition March. least people were wounded the fighting. three-story building housing independent station, Al-Saecdah, the area took direct hit,
destroying the channel's equipment and studios, according statement the management. The
privately owned station went off lhe air.
KhaJed al-Ansi, prominent leader the protest movement, blamed the death the protesters opposition parties, arguing that thir accept!nce U.S.-backed settlement plan proposed Yemen's GulfArab ncighoors gave Saleh license kill protesters will. The plan provides for the Yemeni leader step down and hand over power his deputy exchange for immwiity.
"The political parties are participants the killings," said al-Ansi. "The immunity from prosecution
giving Saleh temptation kill more us."
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not pub1ished,
broadcast, rewritten redistributed.
http://www.washingtoopost.com/world/middle--east/yemen-says-media-cbief-for-al-qaida. 0/2612011
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department State Case No. F-2011-08202 Doc No. C05290938 Date: 05/31/2013
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